Early Childhood Family Education Teacher Shortage Grant
A grant for postsecondary institutions that supports tuition relief and student services to address the early childhood and family education teacher shortage.
The Early Childhood Family Education Teacher Shortage (ECFE Teacher Shortage) Grant Program provides grants to postsecondary institutions to address the early childhood and family education teacher shortage. The ECFE Teacher Shortage Grant reimburses grantees for eligible expenses related to providing tuition relief and other supports for students enrolled in early childhood and family education teacher preparation programs in Minnesota.
An eligible applicant must meet all of the following:
- Minnesota postsecondary institution; and
- Offer a PELSB-Approved teacher preparation program that leads to one of the following teacher licenses (initial license, additional license, or endorsement):
- Early Childhood Education
- Parent and Family Education
- Preprimary Education
- Special Education: Early Childhood
Students are eligible to directly benefit from grant funds if they meet all of the following:
- Enrolled, as a regular student, in an eligible postsecondary institution who has applied for and received a grant from this program
- Enrolled in a PELSB-Approved teacher preparation program that leads to one of the following teacher licenses (initial license, additional license, or endorsement):
- Early Childhood Education
- Parent and Family Education
- Preprimary Education
- Special Education: Early Childhood
Grantees may use funds for the following eligible services and expenses:
- Personnel Costs
- Tuition and Fees Relief
- Direct Student Supports
- Other Student Supports
- Marketing and Communication
The maximum allowable request per postsecondary institution is $250,000.
- Dual Training Grant
- Emergency Assistance for Postsecondary Students (EAPS) Grant
- Early Childhood Family Education Teacher Shortage Grants
- Hunger Free Campus Grants
- Hunger Free Campus Equipment Grants
- Inclusive Higher Education Grant
- Intervention for College Attendance Grant
- Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Research Grant
- Student Parent Support Initiative Grant
- Use of Force Training Grant
- Previous Competitive Grant Programs
April 6, 2026: Request for Proposal posted on OHE website and available in application portal at: https://applicationportal.ohe.mn.gov/Competitive-Grant-Applications/
April 27, 2026 (12:00 p.m. CT): Deadline for submitting technical questions
May 8, 2026 (4:00 p.m. CT): Proposal submission deadline
May 29, 2026: Award notices sent to applicants
2026 ECFE Teacher Shortage Request for Proposal
Proposals must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. CT on May 8, 2026 through the application portal at: https://applicationportal.ohe.mn.gov/Competitive-Grant-Applications/
April 20, 2026 (12:00 p.m. CT) is the deadline for submitting technical questions. Answers to technical questions will be posted here and updated weekly until the deadline.
- Minnesota State University Moorhead
- Project Title: Elevate ECSE: Empowering Students, Families and Educators through Early Childhood Special Education Licensing
- University of St. Thomas
- Project Title: Supporting Culturally Sustaining Family Education for Early Childhood Special Education Teachers
- University of Minnesota
- Project Title: University of Minnesota - Parent and Early Childhood Education Teacher Shortage Scholarship program